[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic
text is surrounded by _underscores_.]
RECREATIONS FOR GIRLS
[Illustration]
Indoor
and
Outdoor
RECREATIONS FOR GIRLS
BY
Lina Beard and Adelia B. Beard
New York
Charles Scribner's
Sons
1914
COPYRIGHT, 1904, 1906, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
SPECIAL NOTICE
The publishers hereby give warning that the
unauthorized printing of any portion of the text of
this book, and the reproduction of any of the
illustrations or diagrams, are expressly forbidden.
EXPLANATORY NOTE TO NEW EDITION
SINCE the publication of this volume two years ago as "Handicraft and
Recreation for Girls," it has occurred to us that "Recreations" alone
much more accurately defines the contents, for the handicrafts
represented are only those that in effect are recreations. Therefore we
have thought it best to drop the word Handicraft and issue the new
edition under the more appropriate title, "Recreations for Girls."
LINA BEARD
ADELIA B. BEARD.
September, 1906.
PREFACE
THIS book, like a girl's life, is divided into two parts: occupation and
amusement, or handicraft and recreation.
It is not equally divided, for handicraft is so much more like play than
work, and is so entertaining in itself, we find difficulty in drawing a
distinct line between that and recreation. The one insists upon blending
with the other and the book, after all, is a book of entertainment.
With the old handicrafts coming back into favor and new ones constantly
being brought forward, a girl's life may be full of delightful
employment. To work with joyous enthusiasm and self-reliant energy, as
well as to play with light-hearted enjoyment, cannot fail to make her
sensible, wholesome, and happy, and it is with this end in view that we
have written and illustrated the book. Our wish is to help our girl
friends to make the most of their girlhood and to enjoy it to its
fullest extent.
We have had practical experience in the actual working out of all the
various handicrafts and recreations, and therefore give only that which
we know can be well and easily done by the average girl.
Thanks are due to the _Delineator_, _Harper's Bazar_, _Woman's Home
Companion_, and _Good Housekeeping_, for their courtesy in promptly
returning for this work the original drawings and material used in their
respective magazines.
THE AUTHOR.
FLUSHING, August 2, 1904.
CONTENTS
PART I
HANDICRAFT
CHAPTER I. PAGE
SPINNING 3
The Spinning-Wheel, 4; The Spindle, 5; The Distaff, 7;
Thoroughly Cleaned, 8; The Band, 8; To Adjust the Band,
9; The Flax, 10; Practice, 11; How to Spin, 12; When
the Thread Breaks, 12.
CHAPTER II.
WEAVING ON A HOME-MADE LOOM 15
The Pin Loom, 16; The Heddles, 17; The Shuttle, 19; To
Adjust the Warp, 19; The Woof, 20; How to Weave a
Miniature Navajo Blanket, 20; Blankets for Dolls' Beds,
26.
CHAPTER III.
A BALL OF TWINE AND WHAT MAY BE MADE OF IT 27
Making a Little Hammock, 27; How to Tie the Twine, 29;
A School-Bag, 31; Twine Curtains, 34.
CHAPTER IV.
AN ARMFUL OF SHAVINGS, AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM 36
Selecting the Shavings, 36; A Soft Little Basket, 36;
How to Prepare the Shavings, 37; How to Weave the
Shavings, 39; Bind the Edges, 40; The Handle, 40; A
Handkerchief Case, 41.
CHAPTER V.
PRIMITIVE REED CURTAINS 43
The Reeds, 43; Raw Material, 43; The Twine-Stick Weave,
44; The Finished Curtain, 46; Curtain-Bee Frolic, 48;
Door-way Screens, 49.
CHAPTER VI.
THINGS TO MAKE OF COMMON GRASSES 53
A Grasshopper House, 53; A Doll's Hammock, 56; A
Bouquet-Holder, 58; Weaving a Napkin-Ring, 59.
CHAPTER VII.
POSSIBILITIES OF A CLOTHES LINE 62
Adapted to Decoration, 62; Rope Wood-Basket, 62; Rope
Net Fringe, 65; The Tassels, 65.
CHAPTER VIII.
HOW TO WEAVE A SPLINT BASKET 68
The Material, 68; The Spokes, 68; The Weavers, 70;
Weaving the Basket, 71; Binding Off, 71; Trimming, 73.
CHAPTER IX.
MODELLING IN TISSUE-PAPER 75
Modelling a Chicken, 75; A Turkey, 81; The Sturdy
Little Elephant, 83.
CHAPTER X.
NATURE STUDY WITH TISSUE-PAPER 86
All Flowers from Squares and Circles, 86; The Best
Models, 86; Material, 87; The Carnation, 87; How to Cut
a Circle, 88; The Morning-Glory, 94; The Daffodil, 99.
CHAPTER XI.
A NEW RACE OF DOLLS 103
Dolls of Substance and Form, 103; The Paper, 104; Making
the Head, 104; The Arms, 105; The Body, 105; The Legs,
106; The Feet and Shoes, 107; Doll's Hair, 106; The
Dress, 108; The Cap, 110.
CHAPTER XII.
AN INDIAN ENCAMPMENT ON A PASTRY-BOARD 111
The Ground, 111; The Wigwam, 112; Decorating the Wigwam,
114; The Fire, 114; The Doll Indian, 115; The War
Head-Dress, 116; A Travois, 118; Pipe of Peace, 119; A
Perfect Little Tomahawk, 120; The Chieftain's Shield,
120; Arrow-Heads and Arrows, 122; A Bow That Will
Shoot, 124; The Doll Squaw, 125; Squaw's Chamois Gown,
125; Primitive Loom and Navajo Blanket, 125; Papoose,
130; Cradle for Papoose, 130; Indian Money, 131; Wampum
Necklace, 131.
CHAPTER XIII.
A TOY COLONIAL KITCHEN WITH FAC-SIMILE COLONIAL FURNISHINGS 133
The Floor, 135; The Fireplace, 138; A Hair-pin Crane,
138; Little Dutch Oven, 139; Two Andirons, 141; The
Fire, 142; Iron Pot, 143; The Peel, 144; The Toaster,
144; Pot-Hooks, 145; The Spinning-Wheel, 147; The
Little Spinner, 150; The Costume, 150; Flint-Lock
Rifle, 151; The Bellows, 153; Colonial Pewter Dish,
154; Grandfather's Clock, 155; Colonial Churn, 160.
CHAPTER XIV.
LITTLE PAPER HOUSES OF JAPAN 162
How the People Live, 162; The House, 162; The Floors,
167; The Fence, 168; The Gateway, 169; Birthday
Festivals, 169; The Koi, 171; A Kago, 172.
CHAPTER XV.
SOME ODD THINGS IN RUSSIA 175
The Coronation Cathedral, 175; Door-way, 177; Cupolas,
178; A Russian Peasant Doll, 180; A Little Samovar,
182.
CHAPTER XVI.
POTTERY WITHOUT A POTTER'S WHEEL 185
Primitive Pottery, 185; The Clay, 187; Moulded on
Baskets, 187; The Table, 188; The Roll, 189; To Coil
the Clay, 189.
CHAPTER XVII.
BABY ALLIGATORS AND OTHER THINGS OF CLAY 193
The Head, 195; The Body, 196; The Tail, 196; Coat of
Armor, 197; The Legs and Feet, 198; A Banana, 201; A
Little Bust of Washington, 202.
CHAPTER XVIII.
FUNNY LITTLE APPLE TOYS 206
The Porcupine, 206; Sally Walker's Head, 208; Sally's
Curls, 208; The Indian, 209; A Comical Little Jap, 211;
An Apple Tower, 214.
CHAPTER XIX.
MARVEL PICTURES 215
Mary, 215; Her Dress, 217; Sun-Bonnet, 218; How to Draw
the Lamb, 219; How to Make the Wool Grow, 219; How to
Draw the Goose, 221; How to Feather the Goose, 223.
PART II
RECREATION
CHAPTER XX.
EGG GAMES FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAYS
LIFTING FOR PASCH EGGS 227
How to Prepare the Egg-Shells, 227; Hanging the Eggs, 228;
The Players, 228; The Lifting, 229; The Egg Dance, 230;
Placing the Eggs, 230; Dividing the Players, 230; The
Dance, 230; The Reward, 231; Easter Angling, 231;
Materials for the Game, 231; Fish-poles, 231; Eggs,
232; Rules of the Game, 234; Table Egg-Rolling, 235.
CHAPTER XXI.
MAY DAY AMUSEMENTS 237
How the May King and Queen Are Chosen, 237; Archery, 237;
The Bows, 238; Arrows, 238; Floral Target, 240; Keeping
Score, 243; May Baskets and Spring Flowers, 246; How to
Erect the Pole, 249; Dressing the May-Pole, 250; The
Balls, 252; The Game, 252.
CHAPTER XXII.
HALLOWE'EN REVELS 254
Gold Nuggets, 254; The Mine, 255; The Miners, 255; The
Apple Witch, 256; Witch's Hair, 257; Hat, 257; Broom,
258; Ghost Writing, 259; Four-Leaved Clover, 260;
Apple-seed Fortune Telling; 261; Fortune Bags, 262.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE MAGIC CLOTH AND WHAT IT WILL DO 264
Magic in India, 264; A Jumping Frog, 264; The Hungry
Birds, 267; To make the Children Talk, 268; Moving
Faces, 269; The High Note, 270.
CHAPTER XXIV.
FINGER PLAYS FOR LITTLE FOLK 273
The Teeter, 273; Church, 275; Steeple, 275; Open Door,
276; The People, 276; The Preacher, 277; Man Chopping
Wood, 277; My Mother's Knives and Forks, 279; My
Father's Table, 280; My Sister's Looking-Glass, 280;
The Little Black Birds, 280; The Baby's Cradle, 281;
Chin Chopper Chin, 282; Build the Tower, 282; The Five
Little Pigs, 285; Little Heads for Little Fingers, 285.
CHAPTER XXV.
HOW TO ARRANGE FRESH FLOWERS 289
Selecting the Flowers, 289; A Number of Nasturtiums,
290; Do not Crowd the Flowers, 290; Green Leaves with
Flowers, 291; Color Schemes, 291; The Vases, 292;
Colorless Transparent Vases, 292; Arrangement, 293;
Flower Lifter, 294; Symmetry, 295; Wild Flowers, 295.
CHAPTER XXVI.
OPEN AIR PLAYHOUSES 298
A Florida Playhouse, 298; Palm Decorations, 298; Other
Decorations, 298; An Umbrella Playhouse, 299; A Real
Teepee, 302; An African Hut, 306; The Floral Tent, 307.
CHAPTER XXVII.
KEEPING STORE 308
The Counter, 308; The Scales, 309; Groceries, 312;
Vegetables, 312; Candy, 313; Wrapping Paper, 313;
Money, 314; Paper Pocket-Books, 314; Keeping Accounts,
316; Bars of Soap, 319; Butter Clay, 319.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A FROLIC WITH THE ROSES 320
Beauty of the Rose, 320; Rose Petal Fleet, 321; Green
Leaf-Boats, 322; The Lake, 323; A Little Rose Girl,
325; A Garden, 325; A Peachblow Vase, 327; Candied Rose
Petals, 327; Rose Petal Cap, 328; Conventional Designs,
330; A Wreath of Roses, 332; A Rose Book, 332.
CHAPTER XXIX.
A STRAW RIDE PICNIC 333
The Season, 333; Games for the Wagon, 333; Simon Says,
335; Bird Wish, 337; Lines to Be Recited Rapidly, 337;
At the Grounds, 338; Chasing the Deer, 338; The Swing,
338; Teeter-Tarter, 338; The Dinner, 339; Dishes, 339;
Camp-Fire, 342; After Luncheon, 342; Telling Stories,
343; Game of Menagerie, 343.
CHAPTER XXX.
A PAPER CHASE 345
The Hares and Hounds, 345; The Start, 347; False
Scents, 347; The Finish, 348; How to Dress, 348.
PART I
HANDICRAFT
[Illustration: The spinning-wheel shall buzz and whirr.]
CHAPTER I
SPINNING
THERE is so much poetry, romance, and history associated with the
distaff and spindle, and later with the old spinning-wheel, that we have
looked upon them with a feeling almost of awe, certainly with a
reverence for the gentle hands that spun so industriously generations
ago. But it has now occurred to us that we too may set the wheel
a-humming, taking up with enthusiastic eagerness the work laid down by
our great-grandmothers so many years ago. The song of even the athletic
girl will soon be like Martha's when she sings in the market-place:
"I can spin, sir,"
and the wheel will no longer be set aside as a relic of an industry past
and gone.
All the old handicrafts are coming back again, and ere long we shall be
as proud as the maids in Revolutionary times of our hand-spun and
hand-woven fabrics. To be able to spin and weave is to be accomplished
in the newest as well as the oldest of household arts.
[Illustration: Fig. 1.--The slender rod tied at the lower end.]
[Illustration: Fig. 2.--The looped upper end of the rod.]
Is the old spinning-wheel in the attic, neglected and covered with dust,
or in the parlor, decked in all its bravery of blue ribbons and snowy
flax? Bring it out, wherever it may be, and for the first time in many
years it shall buzz and whirr, while a girl's slender fingers part the
flax and a girl's light foot rests upon the treadle. Look well to
The Wheel
and see that none of its parts are missing. There must be the bench, of
course, with its treadle and wheel, then the slender rod which is tied
loosely at the lower end to the cross-piece of the treadle (Fig. 1), and
caught at the looped upper end to the little, curved-metal crank that
extends at right angles from one end of the wheel's axle (Fig. 2).
[Illustration: Fig. 3.--A little peg slipped through two holes.]
The two slanting uprights which hold the wheel in place are slotted at
the upper ends, and in these slots rests the axle. A little peg, slipped
through two holes in one of the uprights, keeps the axle from slipping
out of place (Fig. 3).
The frame that holds
The Spindle
belongs in the position shown in the illustration of the spinning-wheel.
By turning the handle that extends out from the upper end of the bench
this frame may be moved slightly forward or backward when it is
necessary to loosen or tighten the band on the wheel.
[Illustration: Fig. 4.--The leather rings.]
[Illustration: Fig. 5.--One ring in each upright.]
[Illustration: Fig. 6.--The spindle.]
In the two uprights of the spindle-frame there must be leather rings
like Fig. 4, one ring in each upright. The narrow strip extending
outward from the ring is pushed through the hole in the upright, and the
edge of the ring fitted into the little grooves just above and below one
of the holes (Fig. 5). These two leather rings hold the ends of the
spindle, which can be easily taken out and put in by bending one of the
rings backward or slightly turning one of the uprights. Fig. 6 shows the
spindle with the spool, or bobbin, and the small, double-grooved wheel.
The spindle proper is simply the metal rod and horseshoe-shaped piece of
wood with its two rows of little hooks or teeth. Besides the wheel and
spindle there must be
The Distaff
and the arm that holds it. The arm is an upright with a rod extending
out at right angles from the upper end. The lower end of the upright is
slipped into a hole at one corner of the highest part of the bench.
[Illustration: Fig. 7.--The tip of your Christmas tree for a distaff.]
[Illustration: Fig. 8.--Bring the four branches up and tie at the top.]
The distaff, which the mountaineers of Kentucky call the "rock," is a
thing you can make for yourself if your wheel happens to have lost its
own. Many are cut from the top points of pine-trees which grow like Fig.
7, and dogwood also is sometimes used. The tip of your Christmas tree
will be just the thing. Strip off the bark, bring the four branches up,
and tie at the top to the middle stem (Fig. 8). Let the lower end of the
stem extend about four inches below the branches and whittle it down to
fit in the hole in the distaff-arm.
These are all the parts of the spinning-wheel, but before you can "see
the wheels go round" every piece of metal must be
Thoroughly Cleaned
and freed from rust. Rub first with kerosene oil and then with the
finest emery paper. Be very careful in polishing the teeth that you do
not bend or break them, as it will not be easy to have them replaced. In
fact, it is difficult to replace any part of the wheel, and though it
has lasted several generations, careless handling may put it past
repair.
[Illustration: Fig. 9.--Proper size of cord for wheel band.]
When the cleaning is finished, grease with lard the parts where there is
any friction. The slots that hold the axle, the spindle-stem, and the
metal arm, where the treadle-rod rests upon it, all need lubricating.
The best
Band for the Wheel
is hand spun, but at present it is possible to obtain them only of
old-fashioned spinners who make their own bands. You can, however, make
a band of cotton cord, such as is used for cording dresses. Fig. 9 gives
the exact size. The length of cord for a wheel measuring eighteen and a
half inches in diameter is about ten feet five inches. This allows for a
lap of one inch at the joint. Sew together with silk, wrapping and
sewing until the joint is almost invisible.
[Illustration: Fig. 10.--Make a double loop.]
[Illustration: Fig. 11.--The band will cross at the bottom.]
To Adjust the Band
loop it together, making it double (Fig. 10), lift the wheel from the
sockets, and slip the band over it. Fit one part of the band into one of
the grooves of the wheel, the other part into the other groove, allowing
it to cross at the bottom (Letter B, Fig. 11). Take the spindle from its
frame and fit the bands into the groove in the end of the bobbin (Letter
C, Fig. 6) and into the first groove in the small wheel (Letter D, Fig.
6).
The Flax
may be obtained from any linen-thread factory and can be bought by the
pound or half-pound. It is graded by color, the darkest being the
cheapest and the whitest the most expensive. For practice-work the
cheapest is as good as the more expensive. When you have learned to spin
a fine, even thread you may choose the color in reference to the article
you intend to make.
[Illustration: The spinning-wheel.]
Open your hank of flax, take part of it, and spread thinly over the
distaff, wrapping it around and around. Put on several layers, each
almost as thin as a spider-web, extending it out widely and smoothly
each time.
You may think the ribbon tied on the distaff of your parlor wheel is
merely for ornament, but it is not. The bands hold the flax in place
while it is being spun, and a crisp, dainty, pretty-colored ribbon is
just as useful for the purpose as one that is old and faded, and it is
far prettier to look upon. Wrap the ribbon around the flax on the
distaff, beginning at the bottom, cross it, and tie as shown in
illustration of the spinning-wheel.
Though everything is ready, before attempting to spin,
Practice,
simply working the treadle until you can manage that part of the work
mechanically and give your whole attention to your hands.
It seems a simple thing to work the treadle, but you will find that
without previous practice you will forget to make your foot go in the
absorbing interest of getting the flax ready to run on the spindle. Curb
your impatience a little while therefore, and resolutely turn the
distaff, with its pretty load, away from you. Place one foot on the
treadle, give the large wheel a turn to the right, or away from the
spindle, and try to keep a steady, even motion with your foot. The jerks
caused by uneven pedalling will always break the thread, so you must
learn to make the wheel turn smoothly and easily, without hurry and
without stopping. Some spinners place only the toe of the foot on the
treadle, others rest on it the heel also; it matters little which
method you adopt so long as the wheel turns evenly. When you are quite
satisfied that you can keep the wheel going without giving it a thought
you may begin
To Spin.
From the lowest ends of the flax draw down several strands and twist
them with your fingers into a thread long enough to reach easily the
bobbin on the spindle. Pass the end of the thread through the hole in
the end of the spindle nearest to you (Letter A, Fig. 6), carry it
across and over the upper row of teeth and tie to the bobbin (Fig. 6).
Start your wheel going, and, forgetting the action of your foot, give
your undivided attention to drawing out the flax. Hold the strands
lightly with your left hand and with your right keep constantly pulling
them down and at the same time twisting them slightly. See illustration
on first page. All this time you must keep the flax from matting and
tangling and the twist from running up into the mass of flax on the
distaff. Only practice will make perfect in this work, though the knack
may come suddenly and you will wonder at your first clumsy attempts. The
little fluster and excitement one feels in beginning and the hurry to
get the flax into shape for the spindle is a drawback that practice will
also overcome.
When the Thread Breaks,
as it will again and again at first, thread your spindle as before, tie
the new thread to the broken end and begin once more. A better way to
mend the thread when you are really doing good work is to unwind a
little from the bobbin, thread it backward through the spindle, bring
the end up to meet the end from the distaff, and let the two lap three
or four inches; then moisten your fingers and twist the threads
together, making one thread again.
Moistening the Fingers
occasionally is a good thing while twisting, as it makes a smoother
thread. In the old days the spinner kept a cocoa-nut-shell, filled with
water, tied to the lower part of the spindle-frame, into which she
daintily dipped the tips of her fingers when necessary. A finger-bowl or
cup of water near by will answer the same purpose.
[Illustration: The little girl and the little loom.]